I write about disruptive ideas in science, technology and culture that change the future, the new discoveries in science and technology that change how we interact with ourselves, society and our planet.
My technology industry experience at IBM, Microsoft and Amazon includes work in account management, software testing management, localization editing and online content production. I have also worked as a consultant in the software and gaming technology space.
My work on technology, science and culture has appeared in publications such as Wired, Ars Technica and Massive Online Gamer, among others. For story ideas, requests to review new technologies or simply to get in touch, please feel free to email me at mpvenables@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Google +.

Why Picard Still Kicks Ass

Seeing Jean-Luc Picard again on Star Trek: The Next Generation reminded me how well this great series stands the test of time. It owes it’s popularity as much for its accomplished ensemble of actors as its novel story lines. The series wrote the manual on groundbreaking technology of the day, such as computerized screen effects like the “Genesis Effect” and the “Crystalline Entity”. It also pioneered graphic artistry such as the “okudagram” graphical user interface, found on the LCARS operating system and the PADD hand-held computer interface, named after scenic art supervisor Michael Okuda. When Picard did appear on the big screen, his on-screen persona, in 4:3 aspect ratio, seemed even grander than his larger-than-life image has long been in the science fiction canon. He has become his own hieroglyph, a human ideogram of leadership, duty, honor and bravery. But how is Picard still relevant now as the quintessential heroic figure? How does he pull off his own syncretic blend of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus-Captain Ahab-Hārūn ar-Rashīd-Sydney Carton-Fernão de Magalhães and Jean-Luc Picard of La Barre, France, Earth? Why does Captain Picard still kick ass?

Many critics had warned that Star Trek could not be reborn as a new series. But, in September 1987, Star Trek: The Next Generation made its entrance in television history and owned the day, best expressed with the Klingon adage, jaj yIjon. On Thursday, in a national cinema event, Fathom Events showed two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Q Who? and The Measure of a Man (with 13 minutes of never seen footage). It also included the story of the digital restoration that was completed on Season 2, interviews with the original cast members, a behind-the-scenes documentary with the artists who created the original FX elements and photography and a reunion with the original cast members that was shot in April 2012. The Star Trek The Next Generation Season 2 Blu-ray will be available December 4th.

After HD remastering. (Photo credit: CBSD)

Before HD remastering. (Photo credit: CBSD)

Here is a synopsis of this mammoth digital restoration project, according to the Sept. 24 original CBS Digital press release. “The series was originally shot on film and then transferred to videotape, which was used to edit episodes together. In order to create true HD masters, CBS is going back to the original uncut film negative – all 25,000 plus film reels of it – and cutting the episodes together exactly the way they originally aired. The visual effects were all shot on film and will be painstakingly recompositioned, not upconverted from videotape. The newly cut film will then be transferred to true high-definition with 7.1 DTS Master Audio. Denise and Mike Okuda are consulting on the project”.

Without having to dissect all the finer technical details, it suffices to say that the completed restoration from the original 35 mm film is a stunning masterpiece of digital remastery. The colors are brighter, and the planetary bodies, landscapes, buildings, uniforms, people and weapons now have finer, crisper details that were not previously available with the technology of the 1980s. With the reconstructed soundtrack, one can hear the mellifluous, bass hum of the Enterprise D‘s engines as it majestically parts space at one- quarter impulse power.

But, why does Picard maintain this consummate grip on our cultural imagination? What are his basic habits of mind that remain so pointedly relevant to the zeitgeist here on Earth, in the real world?

First, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is an equitable and forceful leader, especially in crisis, when it is most needed. Picard is most acutely aware of his achievements as a leader of men (and women). He allows himself a moment of frankness with his crew, his Starfleet family, when addressing the wedding reception of Riker and Troi in Star Trek: Nemesis

Duty. A starship captain’s life is filled with solemn duty. I have commanded men in battle. I have negotiated peace treaties between implacable enemies. I have represented the Federation in first contact with twenty-seven alien species. But none of this compares with my solemn duty today… as best man.

His excellence of character lies in the fact that he doesn’t allow his accomplishments to engorge his ego. He has a fine sense of self without being egotistical. A keen awareness of his place in history without pretensions of grandeur.

But, Picard has made many decisions in the most difficult circumstances, always for the benefit of his community of officers and crew. He makes the decision as an individual captain, but always for the future good of his crew. Picard’s supreme moment comes when he must defend Earth against the Borg, a collective of super-rational, soulless cybernetic-human beings seeking Earth’s total assimilation. In Star Trek: First Contact, he struggles to set aside his own feelings of resentment against the Borg, and decides to put the safety and well-being of his crew first. When he finally confronts the Borg queen, she offers him the chance to be Borg King at her side, but only through his own free choice. In fact, the Borg Queen had tempted Data, by granting the android the sensation of human touch. Picard has a Sydney Carton moment when he offers himself up to the Borg Queen in exchange for Data’s freedom. Data escapes and saves the day, in the end. Picard had offered himself up to save a non-human life-form, whose greatest wish, ironically, was to become an emotive human. But Picard is egalitarian in his world-view. He sees Data as his equal, an android whose positronic net is bent on being funnier, more colloquial, more likable, more emotional. Simply . . . more human.

Second, he manages the crew with definitive authority, but often makes his important decisions by conferring with his officers. For major command decisions, he convenes conferences with his senior officers to explore all possible options to resolve conflicts and operational command decisions. During the episode of Q Who? in Star Trek: The Next Generation, he exemplifies the conduct of an informed leader who steers the course bolstered with input from the group. The decisions of a starship captain to take action, in the end, are individual ones. But leaders of all kinds must make choices that have repercussions on all their community, the ship’s crew and the people on her. After Q catapults the Enterprise 7,000 light years across the galaxy, the crew makes first contact with the Borg. Picard wisely realizes that the crew has never dealt with this species. So, he educates himself. He seeks private counsel with Guinan. He summons the crew to a conference, where they cooperatively sit and exchange information. They deliberate on the best, most utilitarian course of action. With this consensual form of leadership, Picard is able to make the right decisions that protect the well being of the crew, the ship and ultimately, Earth itself.

Finally, he admits his human frailty without hesitation, and is unsparing in his emotions. In the same Q Who? episode, Picard demonstrates his ability to unbind and strip off the constraints of his ego. The resolution to the situation becomes clear to Picard, when shields are at 0% and warp drive is non-operational. The photon torpedoes have no damage effect on the Borg cube, and they can not outrun the Borg ship, even at maximum warp. Picard realizes they are helpless against the power of the Borg because his ship is completely defenseless. He can not protect his ship and his crew, his first responsibility as captain of the Enterprise. He can not fulfill his duty as captain in this moment, and he has the sense, the leadership sensibilities to know when he (and his crew) need help to survive. That means he needs Q to save them. And, Picard admits this unabashedly to Q, addressing the pursuing Borg cube. Q responds with his customary, brash arrogance and ennui.

“Q…end this.”

“Moi? What makes you think I’m either inclined or capable to terminate this encounter?”

“If we all die here, now, you will not be able to gloat. You wanted to frighten us. We’re frightened. You wanted to show us we were inadequate. For the moment, I grant that. You wanted me to say ‘I need you.’? I NEED you!”

“That was a difficult admission. Another man would have been humiliated to say those words. Another man would have rather died than ask for help.”

“I understand what you’ve done here, Q, but I think the lesson could’ve been learned without the loss of 18 members of my crew.”

“If you can’t take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It’s not safe out here. It’s wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires, both subtle and gross. But it’s not for the timid.”

Picard is a man for all seasons. He is a forceful but consensual leader, but he embraces his sensitive side as well. His granite sense of self allows him to be vulnerable at times. He has a nose for fine wines, a palate for fine cuisine and an appreciative eye for natural, artistic and human beauty. Small, small wonder that with the lackluster choices of the 2004 Unites States, Earth presidential election, bumper stickers touting the “Picard/Riker” ticket materialized on car bumpers all over the nation. Politicians both domestic and foreign should take note. Picard’s values are still as relevant as ever. With the pressing economic and political challenges of our world, politicos would do well to follow the Captain’s ethical paradigm of behavior, a “far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done” for true deliberation, cooperation and getting the business of the country and the planet done.

I shall be thinking, somewhat emotionally, of Sydney Carton with my hot Earl Grey tea. Marveling at how much work we all have to do on our own planet to approach Jean-Luc Picard’s level of human ethics. To persist in fulfilling our collective duty of civic and global engagement, of living in peace with ourselves, living in peace with others and living in peace with the natural world.

Make it so.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Mr. Data, lay in a course for the 24th century. I suspect our future is there waiting for us.

Post Your Comment

Post Your Reply

Forbes writers have the ability to call out member comments they find particularly interesting. Called-out comments are highlighted across the Forbes network. You'll be notified if your comment is called out.

Comments

My problem with this series, which I did watch, was that it lacked something that the first one had and that subsequent star Trek shows failed to have. When I finally saw the new Star Trek with Chris Pine et al it hit me. Cruel humor. Very dark humor. Whether it was the new Bones ranting about space and death or Kirk’s liason with the green girl who ends up dead, killed along with thousands of other Star Fleet cadets. So yes, Picard kicks a bit of ass and I did enjoy the show but his kicking was more politically correct, more civil. Even the Picard/torture episode was a bit lacking. Almost too antiseptic. The writing on those shows a bit, well, stilted. So looking forward to the next Star Trek movie, scabs and bruises included, hoping they don’t mess it up.

I was with the critics when I started watching TNG, and it did take a while to sink in. Picard has a style that is all his own, and he is more civil. He’s an Englishman, so he has to be! I do think that Shatner brought a deep, emotional approach to his work, and he clearly defined the “Captain’s” role in terms of the commanding presence, the decisiveness, and yes, even the appreciation of beauty in all it’s forms. With the new Star Trek I feel that the mood is something totally different. For example, there are many who feel that Abrams failed to honor the Star Trek canon when he allowed Spock to become emotionally involved with Uhura, a crew mate and former student. I’m looking forward to see what Abrams does next. And whether Foster can make a new series concurrently with the new Star Trek films coming out remains to be seen. Then there’s this to look forward to http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Federation-First-Years/dp/1612184170. LLAP.

Know what you mean, Spock as Don Juan definitely was disconcerting at first but fit with the alteration of the Star Trek Universe. So I am cool with it. Having Kirk recite regulations, also funny as hell. BTW, on a technical note, the 4K restoration, while very cool will not get it’s full due from the Blu-Ray release. Another thing and I am sorry I cannot go to this BUT if you or anyone happen to be in Seattle Dec. 7 there is “Restoring Star Trek: The Next Generation” Friday, December 7 | SIFF Cinema Uptown Tickets: Free The restoration team from CBS and Deluxe join us to discuss the process behind their stunning digital remastering process for the classic series “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, which includes updated effects and remastered soundtrack. SIFF Film Center Phone: 206.324.9996 Mon–Fri 9:30am–4:30pm Email: boxoffice@siff.net

SIFF CinemaUptown

Located at 511 Queen Anne Avenue North, opens 1/2 hour before the first show

After I consoled myself with the alternate timeline thing, I was more comfortable with it. Heh, the “Kirk regulations” thing was pretty funny. Would that we had 4K discs, 4K players and 4K TVs, meh. Tech moves so fast, they’ll be here next year. Okay, perhaps next two years. I did see that announcement for the “Restoring Star Trek: The Next Generation” at SIFF Film Center, and will try to make it.